1962 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

The 1962 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1962. Former Executive Councilor Endicott Peabody defeated incumbent Governor John A. Volpe in the general election.

The election is notable as a demonstration of the political individualism of Italian Americans and historic lack of ethnic bloc voting among Americans of Italian descent, instead preferring to vote based on individual candidates and issues. John Volpe, just the second Massachusetts governor of Italian ancestry, lost his 1962 re-election campaign by a razor-thin 0.21%—a final margin that could be more than sufficiently explained by Volpe polling only 51% among the state's significant population of Italian Americans, roughly half of whom voted for the old-line Anglo-Saxon Protestant Endicott Peabody over a fellow ethnic.

Candidates

 * John Volpe, incumbent Governor

Results
Governor Volpe was unopposed for renomination.

Candidates

 * Endicott Peabody, member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council
 * Clement A. Riley, auto registrar

Results
Peabody defeated Volpe by 4,431 votes. Peabody's slim margin of victory prompted a recount. On December 20, Volpe conceded the election to Peabody.